#English Middle & Senior School Blog

6 Oct 2014 | Comunicacion BDS
6 Oct 2014 |

(Español) Cambridge exams

(Español) 1109_examsinprogressInforma Ana Lía Garda, secretaria de la Sección Middle & Senior: "Como todos los años, con los primeros días de octubre se inician los exámenes de CIE para Middle 1, Senior 4, Senior 5 & Senior 6. Middle 1 rendirá el "Checkpoint" (Cambridge Primary) en English, Science y Mathematics, entre el 14 y el 24 de octubre. Senior 4 rendirá distintas materias, tales como Geography, History, Literature (English) First Language English, First Language Spanish, Mathematics y Combined Science.  Los alumnos de Senior 5 tendrán la posibilidad de obtener el International Certificate of Education (ICE) completando las materias anteriores con Art & Design, Music, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) y Economics (siempre que hayan elegido al menos una de cada uno de los tres grupos en que se ofrecen). Por su parte, en Senior 6 los alumnos se preparan para rendir A Levels de Spanish, Literature in English, Mathematics, History & Biology.  También se presentan algunos alumnos para los AS Levels de First Language Spanish, Language and Literature in English, Art & Design and  Mathematics.  Si han elegido materias de cada uno de los tres grupos en que se encuentran divididas y logran obtener seis créditos (AS Level = 1 crédito – A Level = 2 créditos), habrán alcanzado el Advanced Certificate of International Education (AICE). El viernes 21 de noviembre concluye la temporada de Cambridge International Examinations de octubre-noviembre de 2014, a la que se habrán presentado un total de 169 alumnos de BDS. Los resultados de estos exámenes estarán disponibles a fines de enero de 2015." Mucho estudio... y suerte para todos.
17 Sep 2014 | Comunicacion BDS
17 Sep 2014 | Comentar

(Español) ESSARP Conference 2014: un paréntesis para pensar, compartir y aprender

(Español) Tuvo lugar el primer fin de semana de septiembre en el Sheraton Hotel de Pilar y, como en años anteriores, la delegación de BDS fue muy numerosa, con representantes de todas las Secciones. Quien escribe es la Directora de Estudios de Middle & Senior, Lic. María Inés Martínez Asla. "Todos los años, la Conferencia de ESSARP propone un paréntesis de un fin de semana que permite la reflexión de nuestro quehacer diario como educadores. El tema de este año fue: “Developing Global Learners” y algunos de los destacados oradores internacionales que estuvieron presentes son: Michael Fullan, Yong Zhao, Jay McTighe y Kate Ruttle. Como siempre, la Conferencia generó un intercambio muy rico entre los participantes de todas las secciones del Belgrano Day School. Este intercambio no solamente sucede durante cada exposición, sino también durante las comidas, en los  "coffee breaks”, o en la búsqueda de bibliografía que ofrecen las editoriales que montan stands en el evento. Algunos conceptos recogidos fueron:
  1. Identify desired results
  2. Determine aceptable evidence
  3. Plan learning experiences and instruction
  1. Character Education
  2. Citizenship
  3. Communication
  4. Critical Thinking
  5. Collaboration
  6. Creativity
  • Yong Zhao spoke about "The teacher as a curator in a Museum " and the importance of letting students find something authentic to develop entrepreneurship.
Asimismo, ESSARP nos envió a todos los participantes links y valioso material para continuar investigando y profundizando." [gallery columns="2" link="file" ids="25959,25960,25961,25962"]
20 Aug 2014 | Comunicacion BDS
20 Aug 2014 | Comentar

International UN Model

[gallery link="file" ids="25389,25390,25391,25392,25393,25394,25395,25396"] A Special UN Model  BDS has participated for the first time in the THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) Latin America Conference, organized by the THIMUN Foundation, that took place on August 14th to 16th at the The British Schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. This was the fourth international THIMUN Conference after The Hague, Singapore and Qatar. The theme of the Conference was Latin America, transformations and challenges ahead. The THIMUN Latin America Conference was a 3-day simulation of the United Nations for secondary school students, offering an excellent opportunity to expand, develop and put into practice English language skills, on an informal as well as a formal level. All the associated activities such as preparing resolutions, lobbying and debating were carried out in English. The object of the Conference was to seek through discussion, negotiation and debate, solutions to the various problems of the world: questions of human rights, protection of the environment, economic development, disarmament as well as the critical issue of war and peace. Highlights   Our delegation was assigned Guatemala and was formed by the following students: Delfina Cappa and Alex Mysler from S6L, Sofia Terán from S5L and Martina Freire, Malena Fronza and Candela Kalaidjian from S5H. The conference started on the 14th at 10 am and ended on the16th at 4 pm. and took place at the beautiful campus of the British Schools in Montevideo. Around 25 schools were present from several Latin American countries and over 300 delegates. Our students did an excellent job debating, defending their resolutions and viewpoints. For example, Martina Freire, as delegate from Guatemala was main submitter of the resolution on the topic “Encouraging education about sexual health and behaviour” in her General Assembly committee, and Alex Mysler was able to lobby successfully and convince other delegations to vote against a resolution that did not make a point of protecting civilian population from drone attacks in the Disarmament Committee. Our students profited immensely from this experience and had a lot of fun. This will encourage our younger students to participate in the future and thus get acquainted with the problems our XXI century world has to face and discuss solutions and attempt to solve those problems, even though it is role playing. Congratulations delegation of Guatemala! Mónica Bruck - Head of Humanities, Middle & Senior 
19 Aug 2014 | Comunicacion BDS
19 Aug 2014 | Comentar

S4 Orientation and Cambridge Results

S4 Orientation S4 students started the process of choosing their future orientation at an explanatory meeting I gave them on Tuesday 19 August. The structure of the curriculum: common core subjects, orientation and elective subjects was presented along with tips on how to advance with this important decision; one not to be taken lightly. The Heads of Department and Coordinators will, during the rest of August, explain what each new subject involves and give an idea as to the programs in all subjects. Parents of S4 will then be invited to a meeting on Friday 12 September to clarify any doubts before I meet with each S4 pupil individually during the months of October and November. A/S results May/June 2014 Very good results were achieved in Literature in English, History, Mathematics and Biology. These students now have the opportunity to complement these results by taking further papers in October/November to attain an “A” level, the examinations that are used for University entry in the United Kingdom. These examinations are the most demanding level offered by Cambridge International Examinations. Congratulations to the students and teachers involved…well done. Steven Page, P.G.C.E. - Headmaster and Rector, Middle & Senior 
13 Aug 2014 | Comunicacion BDS
13 Aug 2014 | Comentar

Forthcoming ESSARP Conference

0814_ESSARP Conference 2014 BDS will once again be represented in the annual ESSARP Conference to take place at Sheraton Pilar on 6 & 7 September. This year's theme is "Developing Global Learners", and the official website announces:
"We are at a time when students find more interest in what is happening outside of schools than between their walls. Technology is attracting people of all ages to the digital world and teachers stumble in their way to motivate their children and transform their lessons. New learning modes are needed. Join us in this exciting journey and learn from the masters. Teachers can transform schools by building on previous successes, collaborating with colleagues, sharing good practice and building a community where everybody counts and learning is valued. It is imperative that we start producing and leading change so that our classrooms can open to the local community, the nation and the world to develop global learners."
Source: http://conference.essarp.org.ar/